Pennock thanks fans for support after frustrating night at Potters Bar Town
Ady Pennock thanked the travelling fans who rallied around the team as they left the pitch after a frustrating night against Potters Bar Town.
A point on the road against an in-form team told only half the story of a game Dartford dominated but saw a host of decisions go against them.
A disallowed goal for an adjudged foul and a red card that left the team playing with 10 men for almost 45 minutes, took the shine off a performance that should have seen all three points taken.
But after the players were clapped off the pitch by supporters for a determined second half, Ady paid them a special mention.
He said: “The supporters got behind the team as they came off, it wasn’t just one or two, it was nearly all of them clapping. They could see we had been the better side and that the players had put in a really good shift, so I wanted to say thank-you. It was really pleasing to see and meant a lot to us.
“I had a lot of positive comments as we came off and I think ultimately, everyone is equally as frustrated as we are.
“We should have been a few up at half-time but they just wouldn’t go in. Then we had a goal disallowed for a foul that I’ve now seen back and I can’t see what it was given for.
“There was also a handball that wasn’t given. There was a red card, that was very harsh. I’m not blaming the referee for the red card. I thought both yellows that led to Duane’s red were poor decisions by him. He shouldn’t have run in like that for the second one, it was asking for trouble, even if he didn’t make much contact.
“But to play like that with 10 men and still look the most likely side to get the win, says a lot about the character of the players and it was nice to see the fans appreciate it.”
Asked for his overall reaction to the match, Ady couldn’t hide his frustration.
“I’m just really frustrated. I’m sure the fans are as well. The players, the staff, everyone that is part of the football club.
“We were the better team on the night again. We had four really good opportunities in the first half and others, where the goal was disallowed, for instance, that should have seen us go in a few up and then it could have been a different story.
“That’s why I’m frustrated, because I thought we played the better football, we kept the ball better, and then when we came out in the second half, it feels as though there’s only going to be one winner.
“The red card was unnecessary and cost us. Duane apologised to the players after the game and apologises to the supporters and apologised to me, personally. With Duane on the pitch, we win that game, so it’s even harder to take.
“I’ve never been at a club where we have had so much bad luck go against us in a short space of time. We just aren’t getting the rub of the green. We just need a few shots going in, some decisions go our way and the wins will follow.”
One positive for Ady on the night, was how the team reacted to going a man down.
He continued: “We really showed our character. We kept the same shape and I thought our fitness levels and energy were excellent.
“Michael, Josh and Luther are really building a good relationship at the back and apart from their goal, we kept them very quiet.
“I don’t like to pick out players, but I thought the young boys, Jez and Denzelle in the middle, worked their socks off. Samir had a great game and Callum worked so hard, up front. But they all worked hard.
“There was a period where we went chasing the ball a bit which opens up pockets of space, but I got them to keep their shape and then we were very professional. Jacob didn’t have a save to make and then we could have scored a few ourselves.
“A point was the very least they deserved for that second half performance, alone.”
Now it’s on to another home game on Saturday, this time against Cheshunt, where the team will be fired up to get three points after three games without defeat.
Ady added: “We lost Ade Yusuff at 5pm on the evening of the Potters Bar Town match. He’s dual registered with Hornchurch and I got a call at 5pm to say he was needed due to some injuries and illness. It’s one of those things, but it doesn’t help.
“We will still have Duane available if selected. I thought him and Callum were a real handful until the red card, it helped Callum having someone up there with him to win a bit more and take the pressure off.
“When you think a team like Cray Valley who we played last week have been mostly together for four years, and we’ve been together three months, there’s a reason to be positive after the recent performances.
“The supporters have been amazing. It was heart-warming to hear the positivity as we came off on Tuesday, so now we need more of the same on Saturday to give the boys a lift and get a few wins. Things can change very quickly in this league, it’s time to convert some of these chances and start working our way up the table.”
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